SMITH K.O.Z EXPEDITION 77LH Casting Rod

Product highlights

The SMITH KOZ Expedition EX rod is engineered to meet the demands of predator anglers seeking a powerful, reliable and precise tool to cast large lures. From a lineup designed for modern lure fishing, it delivers an ideal balance between sensitivity and power reserve, allowing anglers to feel the slightest bite while retaining a large safety margin for trophy fish.

Designed for pike fishing with soft plastics, this rod excels with large shads, swimbaits and frogs worked over weedbeds. Its responsive action helps lift lures off the bottom, animates them effectively with power pulls or straight retrieves, and secures a firm hookset even at long range. It naturally suits large lakes, reservoirs and wide rivers, and is equally comfortable in coastal waters for targeting meagre, pollack and other marine predators.

The KOZ Expedition EX series was developed to support travelling anglers as well as local specialists. Robust and precise, it withstands intensive sessions, repeated fights with big fish and sometimes harsh weather conditions. This reliability makes it a preferred ally for professional guides who need high-performing, reassuring equipment for their clients throughout the season.

Technical features

• Design dedicated to predator fishing with lures, in freshwater and coastal saltwater.
• Powerful, responsive action for animating soft lures such as shads, swimbaits and large baitfish lures.
• Long casting capacity to explore large water expanses from shore or boat.
• Power reserve engineered to control pike, largemouth bass, exotic predators and certain marine species.
• Construction suited to working topwater lures and frogs in weedbeds, enabling extraction of fish posted in dense cover.
• Guides and components specified for heavy-duty use with modern braided lines and strong leaders.
• Neat assembly reflecting SMITH’s craftsmanship in high-end predator rods.

Product advantages and strengths

The main advantage of the KOZ Expedition EX is its versatility. It allows anglers to approach multiple techniques with a single rod: power pulls with shads, straight retrieves along breaks, rapid prospection with large hardbaits, or topwater work in cluttered zones. This versatility is especially appreciated by anglers who want to travel light or optimize space on board.

Its progressive power delivers an excellent compromise between casting comfort and fight security. Anglers can cast heavy lures without excessive fatigue while maintaining control during powerful runs from a big pike or a meagre in open water. The rod’s action also helps reduce hook losses by cushioning violent head shakes from predators.

Another strength is the sensitivity of the SMITH KOZ Expedition EX predator rod, which lets the angler read lure behavior and bottom composition precisely. The angler senses texture changes, obstacles, subtle bites and can instantly adapt retrieval. This accuracy makes fishing more efficient and enjoyable, especially during long days methodically covering wide areas.

Usage advice

To get the best from the KOZ Expedition EX series, pair it with a robust reel matched to the thicker braided lines typically used for pike and large predators. A quality braid, combined with an abrasion-resistant leader, will allow effective fishing in cover and confident handling of big fish.

In freshwater, the rod excels for power-pull fishing on large lakes and reservoirs. Alternate jerk-and-pause retrieves, straight retrieves along ledges and marked pauses to trigger following fish. In weedbeds or flooded timber, favor weedless rigs and frogs, using the rod’s power to quickly extract fish from cover.

In coastal saltwater, the KOZ Expedition EX can be used for structure fishing targeting species such as meagre and pollack around wrecks and rocky outcrops. Use shads on jigheads suited to depth and current, and let the rod work during fights to minimize hook losses. After each sea outing, rinse the rod thoroughly with fresh water and dry the guides to extend its service life.

Testimonials

FAQ

Question 1 : Is this rod suitable for pike fishing in lakes and rivers while remaining usable in coastal saltwater?

Answer: Yes, the SMITH KOZ Expedition EX rod is designed for predator fishing with lures and offers appreciated versatility. It is well suited for pike fishing in lakes, reservoirs or large rivers using power pulls or straight retrieves, and can also be used in coastal saltwater to target species such as meagre or pollack, provided usual maintenance recommendations after each saltwater outing are followed.